Flame heating apparatus



ocf., z9,71946. o, BISHQP ETAL 2,410,005

FLAME HEATING APPARATUS or;gina1'Fi1ed Aug'. 3, 1940 W. WLM- Patented Oct. 29, 1946 Compton, Calif., assignors to The National'Supply Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofl Pennsylvania Original application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,196. Divided and this application March 6, 1943, Serial N0. 478,256

Claims. 1

This invention relates to flame hardening apparatus and more particularly to the torches thereof and to the provision of means for avoiding the overheating of the same.

This application is a division of our copending application, vSerial No` 350,l96,led August 3, 1940, for Flame hardening method and apparatusr 1ow Patent No, 2,321,645, granted June 15, 1943.

It is an object Aof `this invention to provide a flame hardeningv or heating apparatus wherein `means Vare provided to prevent the accidental over-heating of the apparatus by preventing flow of combustible heating gas until circulation of a cooling medium Vis established.

Another object `of this invention is to provide a flame heating or hardening apparatus including a 4 torch or torches through which a combustible mixture of gases is dispersed and through Vwhich. means are provided for maintaining a lcirculation of a cooling uid and where means are provided responsive to the pressure of the cooling'fluid for admitting combustible gases towthe torch or torches.

`Other objects .and advantages of this invention it is believed will 'be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

.Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one of the torches embodied in our invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional end View taken substantiallyonthe line .2-2 of Figure 1 illustrating `two such torches in position with relation to an element to |be flame hardened or heated.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic elevation partly in vertical section of the flame heating apparatus embodied in our invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the combustible gas control valve utilized in our invention illustrating the valve in closed position.

Figure 5 is a sectional View of the valve in open position.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, I and 2 indicate torches which are utilized for directing a name against the surface of an element 3 which is to be flame hardened or heated. The two torches are alike except being formed as rightand left-handed so that the construction of only one such torch need be described.

The torch I has a broad flat side 4 in which there is formed a large number of orifices or burner openings 5 for the distribution of the Between the flame `orifices 5 in the `loodyof l theV torch I there are provided. a multiplicity ofair ports 9 which extend through the body ofthe torch and through which air passes from the back of -the torch to the face to `maintainan abundance of air for completing the combustion of the gases.

Formed-through the torch I is a cooling passageV AIll which is connected lby means of a transverse passage VI I,and a second longitudinally extending cooling passage I2, the end of which communi- Cates` With-the transverse passage I3 which is in communication with the discharge passage I4. The cooling passage I0 ,is connected in communication with the inlet pipe I-5 while the discharge passage I4 is connected in communication with a discharge `pipe l-G. The passages thus provide for `the distribution `and circulation of a cooling fluid or coolant `such as water through the torch.

Means are provided for permitting the admission of combustible gas to Vthe torches when the pressureof the coolant attains La desired pressure.

This provision acts as a `safety device .to prevent inadvertent overheating of the torches I and 2.

The particular form of means illustrated in the drawing for accomplishing this result is: The gas which may have been suitably mixed with air or oxygen passes through a meter I'I and from the meter Il passes through a conduit I8 in which there is mounted a valve I9. After passing the valve [9, the gas passes into a flow governor indicated at 20 4from which the gas passes through a conduit 2| to a suitable mixing valve not shown and from which mixing valve the gas passes to the conduit 8.

The valve I9 is of the sliding sleeve type and includes a sleeve 22 which slides along the pipe section 23. Positioned in the pipe section 23 is a dam or blind 24 which obstructs the flow of fluid through the pipe. On opposite sides of the dam 24 are ports 25 and 26. 'Ihe sleeve 22 has spaced packing 21 and 28 on opposite sides of an annular recess 29. There is also secured to the sleeve 22 a shifter 22a for shifting the sleeve 22 u u 3 along the pipe 23. As illustrated in Figure 4, the sleeve is moved to the closed position to obstruct flow of the combustible gas. In Figure 5 the v sleeve is moved to the position where flow of gas is permitted around the dam 24 through the ports 25 and 'in a` rcss '29 and portsV` 25 `back into the pipe 23;-4 `Means are VVprovided for `maintaining the valve sleeve 22 in the closed position when the pressure of coolant or cooling medium does:

into and out of position to prevent the movement oiy the valve sleeve 22 tothe open position. When pressure is exerted against the diaphragm 3|, the interference lug 35 is moved o-ut of the path of the ,sleeve 22' permitting the'valve to be opened. When insufficient pressure-is exerted against the diaplfiragm 3l, the interference lug 35 prevents `openingQoff the" valve i9; thereby preventing the 'owfocombustible gas to torches l and 2. If for any reason the waterpressureand water supply linej'j is'v too `low tojmaintainadequate cooling fl't'hei't'orches" lY andf2; the interference lug 35 will not bemoved out ofv position. 1

f l ,I-Iavingfiully vdescribed our invention and a specicA embodimentrthereof, it is to be understood that four invention is fnot limited to the precise detailsof construction herein' set forth, but is of the full scopeof the lappended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of thel class described,the combination of a, torch having a rst passageway for combustible gas 4and a second passageway for the circulation of a coolant, means including a valve for selectively admitting combustible gas to said first passageway, means for actuating the valve to open position, a conduit for delivering a coolant under pressure to said second passageway, and means including a diaphragm actuated by pressure in `said conduit adapted to hold the valve actuating-means from operation of the Avalve toward open position until Vthe pressure in said conduit reaches a predetermined value.

Q2. In a device of the class described, the combination o f a torch 'having a plurality of burner openings, 'a' combustible gas 'passageway formed within`the torch and communicating with the burner openings, means including a valve for se- 4 Y lectively admitting combustible gas to said passageway, means for actuating the valve to open position, a second passageway formed in the torch, means to pass a coolant through the second' passageway, and means automatically responsive to the` pressure of the col'ant adapted to hold the valve actuating means frmoperation of the valve to open position, said automatic means being operatively ineffective tomove said valve when the valve is in open position.

3. In a device for ame hardening, the combination of a torch havinga first passageway for combustible gas and a second passageway for a coolant, means including a valve for selectively admitting combustible gas to said first passageway, means for actuating the valve, a conduit for delivering a coolant under pressure to said second passageway, and means responsive to the pressure in said conduit adapted to hold the valve actuating means from actuation of the valve toward open position until the pressure in the conduit reaches a predetermined'va1ue;

4. In a device for flame treating Ya metallic sur-f- `face, the combination of a torch having'a'plu'- rality of burner openings adapted to lie` adjacent a surface to be heated, a passageway for combustible gas formed in the torch Vand communieating. with the burner openings, means including a valve for selectively admitting combustible gas to said passageway, means for actuating the Valve,` coolingl means adapted to `prevent'overheating ofthe torch'includinga second passageway formed in the torch,` meansltoJ pass a coolant through the second passageway, and means a'utomatically responsive tothe pressure of the coolant adapted to hold the valve actuating 'means from operation ofthe valve to open position, said automatic means 'being operatively ineffective to move said valve when the valve is Ain open position.

` 5; In a device for name treatingfa metalliclsurface, the 'combination of a torchhaving a plurality of 'burner openings, a passageway forl coinbustible gas formed in the torchV and communicating with the' burner opemngs', meansincluding a valve for selectivelyY admittingcombustible gas to said passageway, means foractuating the valve, cooling "means adapted tol'prevent overheating of the torch including a second passageway formed in 'the torch, a conduit` for delivering uid under pressure to the second passageway; and means responsive to the pressure in said conduit 'adapted to hold the valve actuating means from actuation of the valve toward open position:

. JAMES o. Bisi-ical, :I LLOYD n BABCOCK. 

